Mansi parihar Study Abroad Course Expert
Study Abroad Course Expert
California Institute of Technology commonly referred to as CalTech is a highly reputed research center for Science and Engineering. It is among the toughest institutions to get admitted in USA. The university provides extensive career support to its students through the Career Development Center. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private institution located in Cambridge, have consistently demonstrated the university's enduring academic excellence. California Institute of Technology (Caltech) ranks #10 in the world as per QS World University Rankings 2026. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranks #1 in the world as per QS World University Rankings 2026.
| California Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 8.3 Out of 10 | 9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 7 Times Higher Education 2026 # 10 QS World University 2026 # 7 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 1 QS World University 2026 # 2 Times Higher Education 2026 # 1 QS World University 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 5 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 34 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 140 for Medicine by QS World University 2024 | # 1 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 1 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 11 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -27 PG Programs -13 Doctorate Programs -16 | UG Programs -47 PG Programs -38 Doctorate Programs -29 |
| Acceptance Rate | 3.0 % | 4.5 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-130 IELTS-7 SAT-1530 TOEFL-100 | GRE-310 IELTS-7 PTE-65 SAT-1510 TOEFL-100 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 56364 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 56364 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 20991 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 30996 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 30995 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 21264 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Annual salary offered is 111,000 USD per annum and ROI is 7.9%. Top recruiters are Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Apple Computer Inc, etc. Graduate Employability Rankings (2020): #74. Doctorate students were the highest-paid ($138,000-154,000). | Average Salaries Of Degree:
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| application requirements | International students can apply through Common App and Coalition Application. When applying through the latter, you need to provide additional CalTech questions. Teacher evaluations are mandatory. | Letter of recommendations (two, preferrably from teachers of subjects maths and science or humanities) |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 5 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 7 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 13 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 | # 1 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 1 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 3 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | GRE - 296/340IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 110/120 | IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -62433 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -30995 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Dec 15, 2024 (Application Deadline For 2025 Intake) | Dec 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | California Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1893 | 1861 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 3:1 | 3:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 54% Male, 46% Female | 1.3% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | 124-acre campus located in Pasadena, California. The campus lies on the northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is at a walking distance from Pasadena Playhouse District and Old Town Pasadena. | Lying between central and kendall squares across Charles River from Boston’s Back bay. Small instituition with close knit student body postioned to collaborate and contribute to neighbors |
| Library | Has Sherman Fairchild Library; Includes print collections on Applied Sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, etc. These six libraries together offer 412,217 records and collections to explore from. As per the library catalogs, you can access up to 412,271 resources. | More than 5 million items, with over 21,000 MIT theses |
| Campus Life | It is Pasadena’s largest employer; Has Caltech Today and Caltech Matters to update students about events of the university; Has Diversity Centre, Wellness Centre, Performing and Visual Arts Centre etc. You can enjoy or indulge in 20 varsity sports and various theatre, music, art groups. 80% of students (UG) are a part of athletic teams and 65% play a musical instrument. | Over 450 co-curricular organizations, Society for Women Engineers, LGTQ+ community, Black stuents union, 33 varsity sports, The Tech (student newspaper), The Byte (graduate student publication), religious organizations, around 43 sororities, fraternities and independent living groups. |
| Hostel | #Housing/Room - $12105 | #Rooms - $13614 |
| Famous Alumni | Over 22 Nobel Laureattes, 6 Turing Award winners; Edwin McMillan (synthesized first transuranium element), Donald Knuth (father of the analysis of algorithms), Harrison Schmitt (Astronaut), Arnold Beckman (invented the pH meter), William Shockley (father of Silicon Valley), etc. | 85 Nobel laureates, 58 National Medal of Science Winners, 29 National Medal of Technology and Innovation Winners |
| City Life | Pasadena is located 15 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Some of the top companies in Pasadena are Jacob’s Engineering Group, Green dot corporation, Tetra Tech, Wesco Financial, etc. It has a wide variety of comedy clubs, outdoor cafes, night clubs, etc. You can shop around Rose Bowl Flea market. Unemployment rate of Pasadena for July 2020 is 16.80% | Cambridge- city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts; City is part of the Boston metropolitan area; home to a huge student community; Average salaries offered within the state are up to 97,5000 USD; Famous tourist attractions: Charles River, Harvard Square, Mount Auburn Cemetery, MIT Museum, CambrdgeSide, John Harvard Statue, Sanders Theatre; Unemployment rate- 2.1% (Dec 2019) |
| Weather |
Comparison between Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Subject strength and rankings
Both MIT and Caltech are internationally recognized names, both of which excel in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In the QS World University Rankings of 2025, MIT takes the 1st place, while Caltech stands at rank 10. Considering subject strengths, MIT tops the charts consistently across a wider range – specifically for engineering, computer science, and social sciences. Caltech is also very strong in physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering, though it has less subject coverage.
General Information
Caltech is a small private college in Pasadena, California, with a small student body of approximately 2,463 students (around 987 undergraduates and 1,443 graduates). MIT, on the other hand, which is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has a much larger number of students – approximately 11,920 students .
Acceptance Rate
They are both extremely selective. Caltech's acceptance rate is around 3 – 3.1%, which makes it slightly more competitive than MIT's acceptance rate of approximately 4 – 4.7%.
Admission Requirements
Admissions at both institutions are extremely competitive, with Caltech prioritizing academic rigor and fit, and MIT also appreciating well-rounded applicants who blend into its environment. Caltech is test-blind recently (not considering SAT/ACT even if sent), while MIT usually asks for standardized tests.
Tuition, Financial Aid & Living Costs
Tuition and related expenses at both colleges are annual, high – about $60 – 65k tuition and $19 – 20k for board and room. Total projected cost of attendance is roughly $77k – $79k. Both institutions have substantial need-based financial aid available. MIT has generous aid – through a no-loan policy for families with incomes below $90k–while Caltech also meets full demonstrated need using grants, loans, and work-study.
Outcomes & Career Prospects
MIT alumni earn greater median compensation, estimated at $142,100 a decade after graduation, versus Caltech's $85,800.
The MIT alumni network is extensive — more than 149,000 alumni — with influential individuals such as Kofi Annan and Buzz Aldrin. Caltech, while smaller, has a close-knit group of around 24,000 alumni with many Diversity & Global Presence.
Both schools are internationally active and diverse. MIT has approximately 11% international students, and Caltech has approximately 14%. Both schools are known to be racially and geographically diverse. MIT's larger size also accommodates a greater number of academic programs and cultural exchange.
